A Day in the Life: Construction Administration

You've probably seen construction crews at work as you drive through town or walk around your neighborhood. What most people don't know about are the countless hours of behind-the-scenes work that go into overseeing a construction project. My name's DeAndre, and today, I'd like to tell you about my career as a construction administrator.

What's a Typical Day Like for a Construction Administrator?

When I'm at the construction site, I spend plenty of time overseeing the other workers. However, I spend just as much time working in the office as I do outside. It's my responsibility to plan projects, communicate with clients, and create budgets and schedules. Other construction administrator duties include following building and safety codes, hiring subcontractors, and finding solutions to errors and emergencies.¹  

Sometimes, I focus on a single project. During busier times of the year, I may be responsible for multiple assignments at once and travel between sites. Although this requires me to stay flexible and have excellent organizational skills, I enjoy being a part of so many projects. I take pride in my work and love seeing every apartment complex, bridge, and house my teams build. 

What are Employers Looking for in Construction Administrator Candidates?

If you're considering a career in construction administration, it helps to have experience in the trades. Many administrators have previously worked in heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration.  Interpersonal skills are also highly desirable as construction administrator must interact with clients, subcontractors, other managers, local government officials, civil engineers, and inspectors.¹

Construction administrator should excel at reading blueprints and performing basic math calculations. Strong computer skills are also helpful for communicating and designing building plans. Additionally, leadership skills are vital to this career. Administrators must ensure all workers stay on the same page and quickly adapt to unexpected situations.

Why Choose Stautzenberger College?

If you have a set work schedule or family commitments, don't worry. Stautzenberger College's construction administration program is held entirely online. As long as you already have 50 credit hours in a skilled trades concentration (such as HVAC/R), you could earn your associate degree in as little as seven months.

Classes such as Crew Leadership and Safety, Human Relations and Problem Solving, and Project Planning and Contract Administration prepare students for their future careers. Tutoring, resume writing assistance, practice interviews, and many more resources are offered to all students. Financial aid is also available to those who qualify. The Stautzenberger staff and faculty go the extra mile to help you succeed in your career training.

Ready to start your new career? Call 888.859.8225 or submit the Request Information form online to learn more. One day, you could be viewing all the architecture you helped create in your own community.

Reference:
¹ Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Construction Managers, on the Internet at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/construction-managers.htm(visited September 14, 2020)

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